神的管教
希伯来书十二章5至15节
5你们又忘了那劝你们如同劝儿子的话，说：我儿，你不可轻看主的管教，被他责备的时候也不可灰心；
6因为主所爱的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。
7你们所忍受的，是神管教你们，待你们如同待儿子。焉有儿子不被父亲管教的呢？
8管教原是众子所共受的，你们若不受管教，就是私子，不是儿子了。
9再者，我们曾有生身的父管教我们，我们尚且敬重他，何况万灵的父，我们岂不更当顺服他得生吗？
10生身的父都是暂随己意管教我们；惟有万灵的父管教我们，是要我们得益处，使我们在他的圣洁上有分。
11凡管教的事，当时不觉得快乐，反觉得愁苦；后来却为那经练过的人结出平安的果子，就是义。
12所以，你们要把下垂的手、发酸的腿、挺起来；
13也要为自己的脚，把道路修直了，使瘸子不至歪脚（或作：差路），反得痊愈。
14你们要追求与众人和睦，并要追求圣洁；非圣洁没有人能见主。
15又要谨慎，恐怕有人失了神的恩；恐怕有毒根生出来扰乱你们，因此叫众人沾染污秽；
信息分享
我们之所以对此感到困惑，因为我们忽略了一个事实，就是神会运用不同的方法来引领信徒学像基督；而经历苦难便是其中一个方法。我们若明白这点，便会较容易理解这段经文。神是我们的天父，祂爱我们，凡事都会为我们的好处着想。
圣经所言的「管教」，究竟是甚么意思呢？它是不是指到惩罚？或是凡事只向我们说「不」？
这里所言的「管教」，基本上跟父母管教或训练小孩的意思相仿，就是借着纠正错误来引导归正。肉身的父母看见儿女犯下严重错误，也会作出严厉的管教；我们的天父也是一样。
神经常会借着人生的种种境遇来管教我们。例如，神让我们患病，借此来提醒我们要注意健康。
我们通常会怎样回应神的管教呢？希伯来书的作者指出我们可能有以下几种反应：
轻看管教──第5节。
感到灰心──第5节。
产生苦毒──第15节。
从管教中得益──第5至12节。
总而言之，作者是要劝勉我们说：「你们不再是小孩子，已经长大成人，应该明白父亲为何要管教你、惩罚你或锻练你。你要信靠和仰望你的天父，相信发生在你身上的一切事情，都是为了丰富你的人生和使你的灵命成长。」
反思：
我的天父当然知道甚么是对我有益的，祂在我身上的一切计划，都是为了爱我和建立我。
DISCIPLINE FOR GOD'S CHILDREN
Hebrews 12:5-15
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Message
Why does God allow suffering? Sometimes those who seem to be the best Christians suffer more than others. Why?
One answer to that difficult question is that we fail to realise that God uses various methods to bring about Christ-likeness. Suffering is one of his methods. If we keep that in mind we will understand this passage more clearly. God loves us. He is our heavenly Father who has our best interest at heart.
What do the words 'chastening' and 'discipline' mean? Is chastening only punishment? Is discipline only saying 'no'?
The words are much the same and refer in the first place to child training or education by means of correction. There are times when that correction needs to be severe. That is true for earthly parents. It is certainly true of our heavenly Father.
God trains largely through the lessons we learn under various circumstances. He may use sickness but that is often caused by us neglecting our bodies so we can't blame God for that.
What should be our reaction to God's training? The writer to the Hebrews says:
We can despise it (or regard it lightly) - verse 5.
We can lose heart or faint because of it- verse 5.
We can become bitter- verse 15.
We can be helped by it- verses 5-12.
The writer also says 'You are no longer children who don't understand why parents punish, correct or train you. You are adults now. Whatever happens to you, look beyond it to God. That will bring enrichment to your lives and growth in your souls.'
A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER:
My heavenly Father always knows what is best for me and is planning in love for me.